⚠️ CW: graphic content, cannibalism, murder, rape, child abuse and much more ⚠️ This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted but it is so captivating and well written that I couldn't put it down! This book is a comprehensively updated and expanded version of Martingale's original publication on cannibal killers from the 90's that examines the ancestry of cannibalism from early human history right up to the present day. It is filled with research from scholars all over the world that aid the discussions throughout the book relating to the age old question of nature vs nurture and, in my opinion, is the perfect mix of psychology, criminology and true crime analysis. One particular part that I really found interesting was the discussion on how the internet has allowed groups of individuals to come together and create 'safe spaces' on not only the dark web but also in privately secured social media groups that has changed the way these people work to stalk their victims or enable their darkest desires. The only reason I dropped it down a star is because in a few areas I felt that there was an unnecessary emphasis put on some of the people who had any kind of preferences that lay outside of heteronormative behaviours or sexualities and how this somehow linked to the outcomes whether they were killer or victim. Overall, this was a very succinct and captivating read and if you're interested in psychology, criminology or just true crime in general then I highly recommend this book.